Bedrock (21 page)

Nineteen

Addison Greyer heard the helicopters circling overhead,
but she wouldn’t come out. It wasn’t safe, yet. She had to stay put.
Dehydrated, weak, and eaten by fire ants, she wasn’t sure how long she could
wait it out. She drifted off and found herself watching the boys play in the
backyard as Max chased them while barking. It wasn’t until much later that
Addie would realize that it was likely the search dogs that found her that had
been barking. She was near death and hypothermic. It was the heat imaging
sensors on the helicopter circling overhead that ultimately saved her life.
Search and rescue dogs were then sent in, and they, along with a team of FBI
agents, found her unconscious in the bushes.

Doctors later explained that she was lucky she was found when she
was, that she had been within hours of death. Addie finally woke in the ICU
with William standing over her. Opening just one eye, she peeked at him and
smiled just a little. He looked almost unrecognizable, a different version of
the William she knew, just older with worry lines.

William stroked her face. “Hey there, kid.”

Addie tried to speak, but her mouth was too dry to get anything
out.

“Shh. Don’t talk. Just rest, ok? Let me do all of the talking.”

Addie was too weak to do anything else and simply nodded.

“Listen, I only have a minute. Your husband is on his way up. But
I need to tell you I’m going to be back: later today, tomorrow, and every day
after that. I love you, Addison. I love you more than anything. And I’m so
sorry. I’m so sorry for so many things, but most of all for not fighting for
you. I promise . . . I swear to you it won’t ever happen again.”

Addie dozed off, and when she woke again, she wondered if she’d
dreamed it all, if William had ever really been there at all. She glanced
around the room until her eyes landed on Patrick. “Hi. I’ve been waiting for
hours. They said not to wake you.”

Addie tried to talk, only managing to get out one word. “Boys?”

Patrick smiled. “They’re fine. They know doctors are checking out
Mommy but that she is ok and will be home soon. The doctors said that once we
get you moved out of the ICU they can come visit. We need to get you looking
better first, of course.”

Addie nodded. Satisfied, she let herself drift off to the place
where she dreamed of William.

Later when she woke, he was there with her, almost as if he’d
manifested from her dream.

Sensing Addie’s confusion, he spoke. “Hey beautiful. It’s late.
Or early depending on how you look at it. Patrick went home to be with the
kids. Sondra tells me they’re doing great in spite of everything. Just anxious
to come see you. I tried to pull some strings to get them in here. It just
hasn’t panned out yet. They tell me rules are rules.”

Addie licked her lips, although it did nothing for her.
Everything was so dry. William reached down, kissing her gently. She felt the
wetness from where he’d been. Holding a straw up to her lips, he ordered her to
drink. “I told them this is for me. I knew you’d need it.” William grinned.
‘It’s our secret, ok?”

After draining the Styrofoam cup, unable to stop herself she
drifted off again.

Next time when she awoke, it was Patrick and Penny she heard
standing over her. They whispered in hushed tones, and it took Addie a moment
to make out what they were saying. She opened her eyes and prepared herself for
what was about to come.

It was Penny who spoke first. “We’re so disappointed in you,
Addison. What could’ve possibly gotten into that head of yours?”

Patrick followed. “We know what you’ve been up to, Addison. Just
tell me what were you thinking? Look at the shape you’re in. Look where you’ve
gotten yourself.”

Addie didn’t speak. Penny continued. “We know about your
relationship with William Hartman, Addison. I must say I warned my son. I knew
that you were up to something, but this . . . Well, this is so disappointing
You’ve hurt your husband and your children. How could you?”

All at once, Addie found her voice. “You don’t know what you’re
talking about, Penny. Get out. I don’t recall you being on the visitor’s list.”

Penny scoffed. “I didn’t realize there was such a thing.”

“Well, there is now.” Addie replied, flashing the best grin she
could muster.

Patrick interrupted. “The FBI is waiting to interview you about
all of this. So they asked us not to speak of it until you’re well enough for
them to get in here, but I will say this: Mr. Hammons’ defense is that you were
his Dominatrix in what he calls a session gone badly. He says you were on drugs
and sleeping with William Hartman. Now, ordinarily I’d assume that this was all
false, simply accusations made up by a madman, but then William Hartman went
and hired a legal team to represent you when this thing goes to trial. Tell me,
Addison, what’s that all about?”

“Well, since you guys certainly already have it all figured out,
I think it’d be best if you both leave. Now.”

Penny chimed in. “Here’s the thing, Addison. Your stupid,
pathetic actions are going to tarnish my family’s name. Your husband and
children are going to be the laughing stock of this town. Now, clearly you’ve
made your bed, and, by the looks of things, you’re lying in it. But my husband
and I are well prepared to save our son and our grandchildren. And make no
mistake: we intend to do just that.”

Addie pushed the call button for a nurse as Penny waved her away.
“Don’t bother. I was just leaving. Patrick, I’ll see you back at the house.”

Addie nodded toward the door. “No, you should go too.”

Patrick hesitated. “Mother, wait for me outside for a moment,
would you?”

Patrick turned to Addie, although she refused to look at him.
“Don’t do this, Addison. We can save this. We can turn it around. Let your rich
little lover boy pay for a defense. I don’t care. But you and I, we need to
work this out for the boys.”

Addie looked him straight in the eye. “I’m sorry, Patrick, but
you made your choice months ago when you checked out—actually, come to think of
it, maybe even years ago. Other than logistics, I don’t see that there is
anything left to work out.”

Patrick’s jaw tightened. “I’m warning you, Addie. Don’t do this.
I’ll take the boys. I’ll fight for custody. I’ll take everything. And from
where I’m standing, it doesn’t appear that you have a leg to stand on.”

Feeling the blow she knew was coming, Addie did her best to keep
a straight face. “You should go now, Patrick. Your mother is waiting. We can
discuss this later.”

“That’s the girl I love. I knew, with a little explanation, you’d
begin to see things my way.”

Addie flinched as he bent down to kiss her cheek and watched him
walk to the door, turn just inside the doorframe, and smile. “Oh, and tell that
bastard William Hartman that if he comes around here again, I’ll personally see
to it that our kids are in China by Sunday.”

And there it was: the final blow. Addie had dozens of battery
marks, scratches, and even sutures, but the physical wounds she suffered paled
in comparison to this. For this was the blow that would most certainly do her
in.

Patrick Greyer had underestimated his wife. Never in a
million years could he have imagined that his Addie had it in her to beat up on
rich men and earn a living while doing it. He also never imagined that a guy as
wealthy and powerful as William Hartman would fall in love with her and attempt
to steal her from him right under his very nose. But somehow that was exactly
what happened, which left Patrick to sort through the mess.

For one thing, he wasn’t letting her go. He had worked long and
hard at their marriage and wasn't giving up what was rightfully and legally his
for anything. Not until he found the money, anyway. Patrick knew his wife had
been earning a pretty penny for what she was doing behind his back, but he’d
also underestimated how adept she could be at hiding that money.

Patrick saw the look in his wife’s eyes when
he confronted her. She knew that he knew. He had expected her to lie and hoped
she'd continue trying to deceive him. But when she didn’t, it told him
everything that he needed to know—that his wife was no longer in love with him.
But he’d be damned if he’d give up that easily. He’d be damned if he let her
just up and leave with his children. There was no way that he could ever
compete with William Hartman and come out on top, so Patrick did the only thing
he knew to do to save his marriage and keep from losing his family: he used his
children as pawns. Sure, maybe his wife wasn’t in love with him right now, but
he would change that. He’d make her see that it was possible to have once again
what they’d once had.

He just had to keep his mistress out of the way if he had any
chance at all. Patrick knew he was running on borrowed time, that once she
realized he never intended on coming back she would be quick to let the cat out
of the bag. Michele would only buy his lies for so long. Even still, he had his
plan, and he wouldn’t allow her or anyone else to stop him from seeing it through.

Sondra Sheehan was absolutely glowing the day that
Addie woke up and found her sitting next to her hospital bed. She was finally
starting to show, and Addie had never seen her more radiant.

As Sondra stood, Addie placed her hand on Sondra’s belly, and for
a moment, time stood still.

Finally Sondra spoke. “It’s a boy. What in the world am I going
to with a little boy?”

Addie smiled weakly “You’re going to love him with everything you
have.”

Sondra grinned and placed her hand on Addie’s. “You know . . . I
never wanted this, but somehow I think I already do. I love him more than I
ever thought possible, I’ve never been more worried about anything in my whole
life.”

Addie shifted in the bed, wincing in pain as she attempted to sit
up. “Welcome to motherhood.”

“Addison, I’m incredibly sorry for putting you in this position.
I only hope that when you’re fully recovered that you’ll come back to the
agency. Because of what happened, we’ve made huge changes to policy. Also, I
know this may not be the time, but we’d like to offer you a settlement of
sorts.”

Addie studied Sondra’s face. “You’re nothing if not a businesswoman,
huh? And just when I was beginning to like you, too.”

“It’s a huge settlement, Addison. You’re entitled to it.” Sondra’s
voice broke as she continued. “But that’s not why I’m here. I just wanted you
to know, in case you’re lying here worried. Actually, I came to ask you a
favor.”

Addie cocked her head slightly. “Oh?”

“It’s about William. Obviously, he knows everything, and he’s not
speaking to me. I understand why, but I want to ask you if you’ll promise me something?
Promise me that you’ll keep an eye on him—that you’ll let him love you and that
you’ll love him back. I know it’s complicated, Addison, but promise me you’ll
try.”

Addie stared at the floor, unable to meet Sondra’s eye. “I can’t.”

“Seriously, Addison, look around! Can’t you see that this man is
in love with you? He fills your room with flowers, hires an armed guard to sit
outside your door twenty-four seven, provides you with the best legal team
there is, and is currently sleeping in a room down the hall just so he never
has to leave your side. All the while, he waits with the most pained expression
I’ve ever seen for your husband to come and go.”

Addie wiped the tears from her eyes and took in the dozens of
orchids that filled her room. “I know.”

“Then tell me what exactly is the goddamned problem?”

Addie locked eyes with Sondra. “I just can’t promise you that
right now. Just trust that, eventually, I’ll make things right. But for now, I
really can’t say any more than that. You’ll just have to take my word for it,
ok?”

Sondra patted Addie's leg and let it be. “Talk to him for me, ok?
Put in a good word, will ya?”

“Absolutely.” Addie replied, thankful Sondra didn’t pry. She smiled,
grateful for her small victory. William might buy her lies, but Sondra never
would.